Latin America's Lush Fruits of Colonialism

By

Karen Wilkin

Updated Sept. 21, 2006 12:01 a.m. ET

Philadelphia

Colonialism and its evils are hot topics. Aggrieved historians and their graduate students make careers of denouncing the arrogance of Euro-centrism and the damage inflicted by its misunderstanding, under-appreciation and suppression of indigenous cultures. You'd think, though, that as a theme for a celebratory exhibition, the history -- or the artifacts -- of these accumulated wrongs would send any right-thinking museum professional rushing for the nearest 10-foot pole. Yet one of the most exhilarating shows...